Australia
Freedom at a Glance
Global Freedom
94 / 100
Free
Internet Freedom
75 / 100
Free
Australia has a strong record of advancing and protecting political rights and civil liberties. Challenges to these freedoms include the threat of foreign political influence, harsh policies toward asylum seekers, discrimination against LGBT+ people, increasingly stringent checks against the press, and ongoing difficulties ensuring the equal rights of First Nations Australians.
Research & Recommendations
Australia
Free
94
100
| PR Political Rights | 39 40 |
| CL Civil Liberties | 55 60 |
Last Year's Score & Status
95
100
Free
A country or territory’s Freedom in the World status depends on its aggregate Political Rights score, on a scale of 0–40, and its aggregate Civil Liberties score, on a scale of 0–60.
See the methodology.
Overview
Australia has a strong record of advancing and protecting political rights and civil liberties. Challenges to these freedoms include the threat of foreign political influence, harsh policies toward asylum seekers, de facto discrimination against LGBT+ people, legal constraints on the press, and ongoing difficulties in ensuring the equal rights of First Nations Australians.
Freedom in the World 2026 Policy Recommendations
Strengthen democratic coordination and collective action in a contested global order
Democratic resilience will increasingly depend on stronger coordination among countries that share a commitment to freedom, the rule of law, and accountable governance.
Reimagine international democracy assistance to help reverse the global decline in freedom
International support for democratic institutions, civil society, and independent media has been associated with modest but meaningful improvements in democratic governance, and it is far less costly than the military outlays necessitated by rising authoritarian aggression.
Prioritize engagement with younger generations in the digital spaces where civic identity is now formed
Young people are increasingly dissatisfied with democracy—not because they reject its principles, but because they see institutions failing to deliver on them. Programmatic work should create clear pathways for meaningful political participation, from voting and policy engagement to community organizing and public leadership, so that young people can translate their expectations into agency.
Australia
Free
75
100
| A Obstacles to Access | 23 25 |
| B Limits on Content | 28 35 |
| C Violations of User Rights | 24 40 |
Last Year's Score & Status
75
100
Free
Scores are based on a scale of 0 (least free) to 100 (most free).
See the methodology and report acknowledgements.
Overview
Internet freedom in Australia remained relatively robust. The government did not restrict internet or mobile connectivity and did not block political or social content online. The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, which obliged designated platforms to implement technical methods to verify that users are 16 or older, took effect during the coverage period. Early implementation resulted in millions of account deletions, though there was also significant noncompliance, making the impact on freedom of expression and access to online information unclear.
Freedom on the Net 2026 Policy Recommendations
Undermine Authoritarian Internet Restrictions
Access to the internet is under threat as authoritarian powers continue to create barriers for people to freely express themselves online. Internet shutdowns, throttling, and platform blocking remain among the most common tools of digital repression. At the same time, digital technologies serve as a lifeline for people seeking to expose human rights violations to the outside world and hold dictators accountable.
Safeguard Privacy Online
Protecting privacy online is essential to safeguarding free expression in repressive contexts. Without strong privacy protections, journalists and human rights defenders may self-censor out of a fear of reprisal. Rapid advances in AI—and the growing threat of automated vulnerability exploitation—heighten these risks, leaving civil society organizations increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated cyberattacks.
News and Updates
Featured
Freedom House Perspectives
News Releases & Media Coverage
Policy & Advocacy
Country Facts
Basic Facts
Freedom in the World Score
94
/ 100
Free
Freedom on the Net Score
75
/ 100
Free
Population: 26,010,000
Election Facts
Status
Past Election
Date of Election
May 2025
Type of Election
Parliamentary
Internet Penetration
94.90%
Election Year
2025
Vulnerability Index
86
/ 100
Transnational Repression
Status
Not Tracked
